Standout Characters

| Helen Hallsworth

Our portfolio comprises commercial workspaces across a myriad of architectural styles. In this article we explore the standout characters, with buildings that appeal to occupiers in search of distinctive and unconventional business spaces.

Our counterparts in the residential agency world often talk about homes with period features – appealing attributes that attract homeowners seeking something different. The same is true though of commercial occupiers, some of whom want defining aesthetics which give their workspace character.

Our portfolio comprises buildings in northern towns and cities, areas largely defined by the Victorian-era and industrial architecture. Our clients, dynamic developers with a flair for design, have meticulously restored these spaces, retaining their best features while incorporating contemporary aesthetics to create exceptional office buildings.

Here we explore some of them…

Deva City Office Park, Trinity Way, Manchester

In amongst the contemporary structures at Deva City Office Park in Manchester, are the Grade II Listed former brewery buildings – spaces which have been sympathetically refurbished to provide high specification office space while retaining the heritage of the former use.

Once home to Threfall’s Chesters Cook Street Brewery, the original building was created in 1860, with a recognisable red brick façade found on many such structures in Manchester.

The building ceased to be a brewery from 1988, laying empty for more than a decade, before being redeveloped into something that could accommodate modern businesses – all while retaining the best bits of its history.

Find out about the space still on offer here, and in the units around Deva City.

 

St James’, Oxford Street Manchester

A city icon, St James’ is a Grade II-listed structure – and one you’d fail to miss on account of its 60-metre height!

Originally constructed in 1912, St James’ served as headquarters of the Calico Printers’ Association, whose architects used Portland stone to create a long facade man with three protruding pavilions.

Today, it is in the hands of Bruntwood, a renowned developer that has celebrated the building’s Edwardian Baroque style, retaining internal features like the original parquet flooring.

Find out more about the remaining workspace here.

 

Richmond Street, Gay Village, Manchester

Heritage-filled buildings are the hallmark of the Urban Splash portfolio and this one’s no different.

The building was first created in the 1800s by the Nairn family who, having expanded their business into Paris, London and Glasgow, opted for Richmond Street as their Manchester base.

The spaces here that once created floor cloth and linoleum have since been sensitively restored by Urban Splash, with the exposed brickwork, beams and pillars all retained. Most notable though is a grand, carved doorway, designed by the original tenant as a tribute to the company’s Scottish heritage.

Just one floor remains available to rent; find out more about it here.

 

Lowry Mill, Swinton

Our portfolio transcends the city centre, and one beautiful character building we are marketing right now is Lowry Mill in Swinton.

Built in 1883 as a Victorian Spinning Mill, the building was at the centre of the local textile industry. Fast forward to today and it has been extensively modified to provide modern office suites and ‘wow’ features like a double height reception area.  There’s an on-site gym, plus a stunning restaurant and coffee shop with original stone floor.

And if you like your history, you’ll probably know that the eponymous name is of course a nod to the famous Salford artist who lived just two streets away and painted the local area in 1928!

Find out more about the workspaces available at Lowry Mill here.